muscle-bound

adjective

mus·​cle-bound ˈmə-səl-ˌbau̇nd How to pronounce muscle-bound (audio)
1
: having some of the muscles tense and enlarged and of impaired elasticity sometimes as a result of excessive exercise
2
: lacking in flexibility : rigid

Examples of muscle-bound in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
But their skeletons seemed peculiar—stocky and muscle-bound, with mashups of features seen in various groups of modern-day mammals. Steve Brusatte, Scientific American, 1 June 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of muscle-bound was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near muscle-bound

Cite this Entry

“Muscle-bound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muscle-bound. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

muscle-bound

adjective
mus·​cle-bound
ˈməs-əl-ˌbau̇nd
: having abnormally large muscles that do not move and stretch easily

Medical Definition

muscle-bound

adjective
mus·​cle-bound ˈməs-əl-ˌbau̇nd How to pronounce muscle-bound (audio)
: having some of the muscles tense and enlarged and of impaired elasticity sometimes as a result of excessive exercise

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